THE possibility of selling off News International altogether was under discussion yesterday as Rupert Murdoch met his inner circle.

Sources revealed that the global media mogul was locked in a series of meetings to specifically consider the option of dispensing with the group which owns The Sun, The Times and the Sunday Times, following the closure of The News of the World.

In the City, analysts said possible buyers for the titles were starting to circle as they recognised the media baron’s desire to protect the reputation of parent News Corporation from further damage after seeing its share value plummet.

One media expert said: “Murdoch has the ruthlessness to amputate the arm that is threatening the rest of News Corporation.” Alex de Groote, an analyst at Panmure, said a sale, was now a “live possibility”.